Methods for preparing T-cells for cell therapy

ABSTRACT

T-cells are generated with enhanced immunostimulatory capabilities for use in self therapy treatment protocols, by utilizing a biodegradable device with a biodegradable support that has one or more agents that are reactive to T-cell surface moieties. The biodegradable devices are mixed with the T-cells sufficiently so that the one or more agents cross-link with the T-cells&#39; surface moieties and deliver a signal to the T-cells to enhance immunostimulatory capabilities.

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/547,966, filed Feb. 26, 2004, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to methods for generating T-cells with enhanced immunostimulatory capabilities for use in cell therapy treatment protocols.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cell therapy methods have been developed in order to enhance the host immune response to tumors, viruses and bacterial pathogens. Cell therapy methods often involve the ex-vivo activation and expansion of T-cells. Examples of these type of treatments include the use tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cells (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,132 issued to Rosenberg), cytotoxic T-cells (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,073 issued to Cai, et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,827 issued to Celis, et al.), expanded tumor draining lymph node cells (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,385 issued to Terman), and various other lymphocyte preparations (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,194,207 issued to Bell, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,983 issued to Ochoa, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,177 issued to Riddell, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,920 issued to Babbitt, et al.).

For maximum effectiveness of T-cells in cell therapy protocols, the ex vivo activated T-cell population should be in a state that can maximally orchestrate an immune response to cancer, infectious diseases, or other disease states. For an effective T-cell response, the T-cells first must be activated. For activation, at least two signals are required to be delivered to the T-cells. The first signal is normally delivered through the T-cell receptor (TCR) on the T-cell surface. The TCR first signal is normally triggered upon interaction of the TCR with peptide antigens expressed in conjunction with an MHC complex on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell (APC). The second signal is normally delivered through co-stimulatory receptors on the surface of T-cells. Co-stimulatory receptors are generally triggered by corresponding ligands or cytokines expressed on the surface of APCs.

Due to the difficulty in maintaining large numbers of natural APC in cultures of T-cells being prepared for use in cell therapy protocols, alternative methods have been sought for ex-vivo activation of T-cells. One method is to by-pass the need for the peptide-MHC complex on natural APCs by instead stimulating the TCR (first signal) with polyclonal activators, such as immobilized or cross-linked anti-CD3 or anti-CD2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or superantigens. The most investigated co-stimulatory agent (second signal) used in conjunction with anti-CD3 or anti-CD2 mAbs has been the use of immobilized or soluble anti-CD28 mAbs.

The combination of anti-CD3 mAb (first signal) and anti-CD28 mAb (second signal) immobilized on a solid support such as paramagnetic beads (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,694 issued to June, et al.) has been used to substitute for natural APCs in inducing ex-vivo T-cell activation in cell therapy protocols (Levine, Bernstein et al. 1997; Garlie, LeFever et al. 1999; Shibuya, Wei et al. 2000). While these methods are capable of achieving therapeutically useful T cell populations, the use of paramagnetic beads makes the ease of preparation of T-cells less than ideal. Problems include the high cost of the beads, the labor-intensive process for removing the beads prior to cell infusion, and the inability of the beads to activate CD8 T-cell subsets (Deeths, Kedl et al. 1999; Laux, Khoshnan et al. 2000). In addition, the T-cell populations resulting from this method, and other prior art T-cell stimulation methods, lack the type of robustness required for eliciting effective immune stimulation when infused into patients. As a consequence, no prior art cell therapy protocols have demonstrated significant efficacy in clinical settings.

This has motivated the search for more effective methods for activating T-cells for use in cell therapy protocols. One such method is the use of APC tumor cell lines that have been genetically modified to express receptors that bind mAbs. These modified APC can be loaded with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs (Thomas, Maus et al. 2002) or additionally modified to express the ligand for 4-1BB (Maus, Thomas et al. 2002) and then used to activate T-cells for use in cell therapy protocols. It was found that these modified APCs resulted in more effective activation of T-cell populations than the use of CD3/CD28-coated paramagnetic beads. However, the use of genetically-manipulated tumor cell lines in cell therapy protocols raises safety concerns which limit the commercial application of this technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this situation, biodegradable supports coated with a first material that is capable of cross-linking second materials with reactivity to moieties on the surface of T-cells are utilized. The coated biodegradable supports are then mixed with second material labeled T-cells. The signals delivered by the cross-linked second materials are enhanced by centrifugation of the mixture. The signals are further enhanced by the culture of the mixture at high cell densities.

The present invention also includes biodegradable devices that have a biodegradable support with one or more agents that are reactive to T-cell moieties. Such agents deliver signals to T-cells to enhance immunostimulatory or immunoregulatory capabilities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

There is a need for improved T-cell stimulation methods capable of increasing the robustness of T-cells for use in cell therapy protocols that are more suitable for use in human therapy.

In order to improve the robustness of T-cells, it is also desirable that the improved stimulation methods as closely as possible mimic the stimulatory effects of natural APCs. The improvement in T-cell activation observed with the CD3/CD28-coated APC cell lines discussed above (Thomas, Maus et al. 2002); (Maus, Thomas et al. 2002), was attributed to the availability of ligands to co-stimulatory molecules naturally expressed on the APC cell line that worked in concert with the CD3/CD28 stimulation. These ligands included B7-H3, PD-L1, PD-L2 and IL-15.

Therefore, it is desired to have a method for improved T-cell stimulation capable of presenting a multiplicity of co-stimulatory ligands without the requirement for use of a tumor cell line.

Natural APCs, however, not only provide multiple simultaneous stimuli to T-cells, they provide different arrays of multiple stimuli at different times and/or stages in the T-cell response to T-cell stimulation. No prior art T-cell stimulation methods are capable of mimicking this natural process.

The ability to mimic this natural process would provide a means to control not only the expansion of T-cells, but also the differentiation of T-cells. In the process of T-cell differentiation into regulatory or effector cells, different signals are required at different times and/or stages in the T-cell response to APC stimulation. Thus, it would be desirable to be able to create ex-vivo conditions that mimic this natural process in order to provide a greater variety of differentiated cells for use in cell therapy, including cells which could either stimulate immunity or suppress immunity.

The maintenance of the high density cell cultures used in the present invention require special care, as the degradation of the biological supports causes a fall in the media pH and the higher cell densities result in rapid accumulation of metabolic waste products and consumption of nutrients in the culture medium. For these reasons, media changes are required at least daily and preferably at least twice daily after the cells obtain a cell density in excess of 1 million per ml.

Frequent media changes can remove endogenous cytokines that are important for the maintenance and growth of the T-cell cultures. Therefore, in preferred embodiments, the removed culture media is filtered through a dialysis membrane in order to remove metabolic waste products, but retain endogenous cytokines. The retained media is then supplemented with fresh nutrient media and returned to the mixed culture. This enables the cells to be exposed to fresh nutrient media without dilution of the endogenous cytokines.

As the T-cells grow and mature in the cultures, various arrays of second materials can be added to the cultures at any time as required and subsequently cross-linked by mixing with additional coated biodegradable supports. Alternatively, the second materials can be added to the biodegradable supports and the coated supports added at various times to the cultures. Centrifugation of the mixture each time after adding additional second materials and coated biodegradable supports provides added benefit. In preferred embodiments, the centrifigation step is conducted daily to coincide with the media dialysis step.

Biodegradable Spheres

Aliphatic polyesters, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), copolymers of PLA and PGA (PLGA) or poly(carprolactone) (PCL), and polyanhydrides are preferred materials for use as biodegradable polymers for the supports. The polymers can be formulated as various shapes, such as films, strips, fibers, gels, nanospheres or microspheres, and then coated with a first material. Microspheres are a preferred formulation because they can be reproducibly manufactured into small microsphere particle sizes of 1 to 0.500 microns, preferably 1 to 10 microns and most preferably 1 to 5 microns. Microspheres of this size range are capable of direct injection into the body by conventional methods. It is preferred that the coated microspheres be formulated to degrade in culture media or physiological fluids within 14 days, more preferably within 7 days, and most preferably within 3 days. In other preferred methods, nanospheres are formulated. These devices are preferred in applications where very rapid degradation, for example 3 days or less is required.

One preferred first material for coating on the biodegradable microspheres is polyclonal goat (or sheep) anti-mouse polyclonal antibodies. By way of example, this preferred first material can be used to cross-link mouse-derived monoclonal antibodies, or fragments or genetically engineered derivatives thereof, that have specificity for T-cell surface moieties. Thus, for example, the mixing of goat anti-mouse coated microspheres (or nanospheres) with human T-cells labeled with mouse anti-human CD3 and mouse anti-human CD28 mAbs will cause the cross-linking of the mouse mAbs on the human T-cells through the binding of the goat anti-mouse polyclonal antibody with the mouse mAbs. The cross-linking of the mAbs causes the activation and proliferation of the T-cells. Many combinations of first materials and second materials can be used to accomplish the objective of cross-linking second agents attached to T-cell surface moieties in order to initiate signal transduction and activation of T-cells. Alternatively, the second materials can be added to the biodegradable supports prior to addition to the T-cells.

The coated biodegradable microspheres (or nanospheres) used in the present invention provide many advantages for preparation of T-cells for use in cell therapy protocols over prior art methods where mitogenic agents are immobilized on a solid surface, such as paramagnetic beads:

First, since the devices are biocompatible and naturally degrade into non-toxic substances, there is no need to institute a bead removal process.

Second, because the devices have a low density, they can be used with cells being subjected to a centrifugal force. Prior art devices, such as paramagnetic beads, cause damage to cells when subjected to centrifugation. The ability to centrifuge cells with the beads permits the use of centrifugal force to enhance the quality of signals provided to the T-cells by stimulatory ligands cross-linked on the surface of the T-cells and also provides a means to wash and otherwise process the T-cells for preparation for infusion.

Third, in one use of the present invention, rather than immobilizing T-cell stimulatory and co-stimulatory ligands to a solid surface to present signals to T-cells, the use of a coated biodegradable microspheres (or nanospheres) permits the ligands to be first applied to the T-cells and then the labeled T-cells to be mixed with the coated biodegradable microspheres (or nanospheres). In this manner, the coated microspheres (or nanospheres) act as a universal cross-linking agent.

Fourth, as a universal cross-linking agent, a multiplicity of stimulatory and co-stimulatory ligands can be applied to T-cells and be cross-linked by the coated beads and the composition of the multiplicity of stimulatory and co-stimulatory ligands to be cross-linked can be varied over time.

Fifth, the ability to vary the composition of the array of stimulatory and co-stimulatory signals provided to T-cells over time permits the practice of methods designed to mimic natural presentation of T-cell proliferation, differentiation and functional signals.

Sixth, the ability to mimic the natural signal presentation to T-cells permits the development of T-cells with a multitude of functional characteristics for use in cell therapy protocols.

Seventh, the ability to control the sequence and variety of signals delivered to T-cells over time permits a means to control the differentiation pathways of T-cells ex-vivo. This will permit experimentation with novel combinations and sequencing of signals delivered to T-cells. Such methods will lead to T-cell products with novel effector functions both stimulatory and suppressive for use in cell therapy protocols.

For the purposes of the present invention, all references to T-cells includes a population of cells with at least a portion of the cells containing T-cells. T-cells are cells which express TCR, including α/β and γ/δ TCRs. T-cells include all cells which express CD3, including T-cell subsets which also express CD4 and CD8. T-cells include both naïve and memory cells and effector cells such as CTL. T-cells also include regulatory cells such as Th1, Tc1, Th2, Tc2, Th3, Treg, and Tr1 cells. T-cells also include NKT-cells and similar unique classes of the T-cell lineage.

Increased Signal Transduction

One aspect the present invention provides methods for enhanced stimulation of a population of T-cells by the concentration of a mixture of first material coated biodegradable microspheres (or nanospheres) and second material labeled T-cells. In order to increase the efficacy of the signal transduced to the T-cells, it is important to both increase the quantity of second agents cross-linked and the quality of the cross-linking.

In order to assure the highest quantity of second materials that are associated with the corresponding surface moieties on the surface of the T-cells, the labeling of the T-cells should be conducted with excess second materials. In a preferred embodiment where mouse mAbs to human T-cell surface antigens are the second materials, the mAbs are preferably mixed with a T-cell suspension whereby the T-cells are at a concentration of 1×10⁶ to 1×10⁷ per ml and each mAb is at a concentration of 0.5 μl/ml to 10 μl/ml, preferably 1 μl/ml. The labeled T-cells should be mixed with the coated biodegradable spheres at a ratio of at least one sphere per cell, and preferably at a ratio of 3 spheres per cell.

In order to assure the highest quality of cross-linking, the labeled cells and the coated biodegradable spheres are preferably first mixed thoroughly and then concentrated together under centrifugal force. The centrifugation is preferably conducted every 3 days, more preferably at least once daily. It is also preferable that the T-cells be kept at 4° C. from the time new mAbs are added through the completion of the centrifugation. Keeping the cells at refrigeration temperature prevents the capping and shedding of the ligated T-cell surface receptors prior to being cross-linked.

Cell Culture Methods

It is preferable to maintain processive and sustained TCR signal transduction and co-simulation in order to provide the most robust T-cells for use in cell therapy protocols. For this reason, the methods of the present invention work best when the cultured T-cells are maintained at high cell densities, such as greater than 10⁶ cells/ml, or more preferably greater than 10⁷ cells/ml, or most preferably greater than 10⁸ cells/ml. The high cell densities increase the cell:cell interaction and the interaction with the biodegradable spheres.

The increased cell:cell interaction has a beneficial effect that is separate from the cross-linking effect of the biodegradable spheres. The beneficial effect comes from the expression of stimulatory ligands which upregulate on the surface of T-cells in response to maximal activation conditions. These ligands interact with the corresponding receptors on other T-cells. For example, T-cells will express one or more of the following TNFR co-stimulatory ligands such as LIGHT, CD70, OX40L, 4-1BBL and CD30L after maximal activation.

Maintaining cells at high densities in culture with biodegradable spheres requires the frequent changing of the culture media. The high cell densities result in a high rate of build up of metabolic waste products and consumption of available nutrients. In addition, the hydrolysis of the biodegradable spheres causes the pH of the culture media to become acidic. Too rapid media replacement, however, can be detrimental to cultures where exogenous cytokines are not utilized. It is preferable not to use exogenous cytokines when processing cells for use in cell therapy protocols, as exogenous cytokines can be toxic when infused into humans and can make the cultured cells dependant upon the presence of the exogenous cytokines for viability. Therefore, the methods of the present invention include a dialysis step in the cell processing.

Dialysis of the culture medium with membrane pore size of 10,000 dalton or less will enable retention of endogenous cytokines while allowing passage of metabolic waste. In preferred embodiments, half the culture medium of a culture is removed daily and 90% passed through a dialysis filter. The media passed through the filter is discarded, while the retained media is brought up to the original volume with fresh culture media.

According to the method of the present invention, a process is described for producing T-cells with robustness and enhanced function for use in cell therapy protocols involving: (1) the labeling of a population of T-cells with one or more agents that have reactivity to cell surface moieties; (2) mixing of the population of labeled T-cells with coated biodegradable spheres capable of cross-linking the agents attached to cell surface moieties on the T-cells causing a signal to be transduced to the T-cells; (3) concentrating of the mixture by centrifugation; (4) continued culture of the T-cells at high cell density; and (5) removal of media from the cultures at least daily and the dialysis of the media for retention of endogenous cytokines and replacement with fresh media; and (6) repeat of the process as necessary with the same or different agents for labeling of the T-cells in order to generate both the quantities of T-cells necessary for infusion and the optimal function of the T-cells for clinical effect.

Choice of T-cell Ligating Targets

The ability to design more efficient and effective T-cell activation, expansion and differentiation methods will be a direct result of the selection and timing of application of second materials. Second materials are agents which are capable of ligating T-cell surface moieties and delivering a signal to the T-cell upon cross-linking. These materials are preferably monoclonal antibodies, or fractions or genetically manipulated versions thereof, such as fusion proteins. The selection of second materials will be as a result of understanding of the T-cell activation, expansion and differentiation process and the requirements for the type and duration of signals at any one time in the life of the responding T-cells.

It is known that at least two type of receptors need to be engaged for T-cell activation, the TCR and a co-stimulator (Chambers and Allison 1999). In response to natural APC engagement with antigenic peptide and co-stimulatory ligands, the contact site of the APC and T-cell forms an “immunological synapse”. The synapse assembles into topologically and spatially distinct regions. The initial TCR engagement occurs at the periphery of the synapse (Grakoui, Bromley et al. 1999) after which ligand engagement of co-simulating molecules such as CD28, CD2, CD48 and LFA-1 facilitates the sorting and re-arrangements of receptors at the synapse. The content of molecules at the synapse can be specifically enriched in a subset of proteins and can selectively exclude proteins. This selective movement of proteins is facilitated by structures known as “lipid rafts”.

Lipid raft membrane partitioning is known to be crucial for optimal TCR signal transduction (Moran and Miceli 1998; Janes, Ley et al. 1999) and co-stimulators to TCR signaling cause the synapse formation and the re-organization and clustering of lipid rafts at the synapse. These events provide a natural mechanism for integrating spatial and temporal information provided to T-cells from the environment.

Accordingly, knowledge of the types of receptors available at the synapse in response to defined stimuli can provide the information for deciding the various types of co-stimulators to utilize over a period of time. Lipid rafts function as platforms for the concentration and juxtaposition of TCR associated signal transducers and assembly of an organized TCR signaling complex. Thus, by a process of first providing a defined array of signals to a population of T-cells and next analyzing the proteins assembled in lipid rafts that were induced by the first array, a second array of possible signals can be determined. The process can be repeated with second array stimulators. After application of the second array, the process can be repeated with a third array and so on. At each step in the process, the response of the T-cells can be monitored in order to optimize for the desired function, such as proliferation, the types and quantities of selected cytokine production, the expression of effector molecules and other functional surface molecules.

For example, both CD2 and LFA-1 are raft associated proteins that can stimulate initial T-cell activation in the absence of CD28 engagement (Yashiro-Ohtani, Zhou et al. 2000). The engagement of these molecules is known to upregulate and increase avidity for receptors for ICAM-1 which could then be engaged in a second array. CD2/LFA-1 engagement are know to facilitate T-cell activation by increasing the number of TCRs engaged over time, whereas CD28 functions by increasing the potency of those TCRs that are engaged, thus lowering the number of TCRs that need to be engaged in order to effect a response (Bachmann, McKall-Faienza et al. 1997).

In preferred embodiments, a first array including CD3 and other co-stimulatory molecules selected from one or more of the following: CD2, CD28, CD48, LFA-1, CD43, CD45, CD4, CD8, CD7, GM1, LIGHT (HVEM fusion protein) is utilized. A second array including CD3 and one or more of the first array co-stimulators with the additional choices of the following inducible co-stimulatory ligands: CD27, OX40, 4-1BB and CD30.

Also in preferred embodiments, T-cell counter receptors to various adhesion molecules can be engaged during the process. Examples of adhesion molecules on T-cells are: CD44, CD31, CD18/CD11a (LFA-1), CD29, CD54 (ICAM-1), CD62L (L-selectin), and CD29/CD49d (VLA-4). Other suitable second array agents include non-cytokine agents which bind to cytokine receptors and deliver a signal when cross-linked. Examples of these type of agents are mAbs to cytokine receptors including: IL-2R, IL-4R, IL-10R, Type II IFNR1 and R2, Type I IFNR, IL-12Rbeta1 and beta2, IL-15R, TNFR1 and TNFR2, and IL-1R. Also any agents capable of binding to chemokine receptors on T-cells and delivering a signal when cross-linked, including those in the C—C and C—X—C categories. Examples of chemokine receptors associated with T-cell function include CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, and CXCR3

Example Methods

Examples of optimized processes for producing a T-cell population with enhanced ability to stimulate the immune system follow. All examples utilize goat anti-mouse coated biodegradable microspheres and T-cells labeled with mouse mAbs specific for T-cell surface antigens:

Example #1 Set-up (Day 0)

-   -   (1) collection of leukocytes by leukapheresis;     -   (2) purification of 10⁸ CD4+ T-cells by positive selection;     -   (3) labeling of purified CD4+ cells with anti-CD3, anti-CD28 and         anti-IL-12Rbeta2 mAbs;     -   (4) mixing the labeled cells with coated microspheres in gas         permeable bags (3:1 sphere:cell);     -   (5) suspension of the mixture at a cell density of 1×106/ml in         100 ml;     -   (6) centrifugation of the mixture at 500×g for 8 min at 4° C.;     -   (7) gently resuspend and culture in humidified atmosphere at         37° C. with 5% CO₂;         Day 3     -   (8) remove 80 ml of culture media by syringe aspiration using a         0.45 micron filter so as not to remove any cells;     -   (9) pass 70 ml of the removed media through a dialysis filter of         6,000 dalton cut-off size;     -   (10) add 70 ml of fresh culture media to the retained 10 ml and         add back to the culture bag;     -   (11) add 100 μg each of anti-CD3, anti-CD28, anti-IL-12Rbeta2         and anti-4-1BB mAbs to the culture bag;     -   (12) mix coated microspheres at a sphere:cell ratio of 1:1;     -   (13) centrifuge mixture at 500×g for 8 min at 4° C.;     -   (14) gently resuspend and culture in humidified atmosphere at         37° C. with 5% CO₂;         Day 4     -   (15) repeat steps 8-10         Day 5     -   (16) repeat steps 8-10         Day 6     -   (17) repeat steps 8-14     -   (18) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10         Day 7     -   (19) repeat steps 8-10     -   (20) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10         Day 8     -   (21) repeat steps 8-10     -   (22) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10         Day 9     -   (23) harvest T-cell population and formulate for infusion         Results

This method results in a population of T-cells with enhanced proliferation and production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha compared to cells activated with CD3/CD28-coated immunomagnetic beads alone. N=6

Fold IFN-gamma TNF-alpha IL-4 Method Expansion ng/ml ng/ml pg/ml Example #1 830 +/− 77  970 +/− 160 180 +/− 38  <20 3/28-beads + 80 +/− 20   3 +/− 2.2 0.5 +/− .2  80 +/− 16 IL-2

Example #2 Set-up (Day 0)

-   -   (4) collection of leukocytes by leukapheresis;     -   (5) purification of 10⁸ CD4+ T-cells by positive selection;     -   (6) labeling of purified CD4+ cells with anti-CD3, anti-CD28         mAbs;     -   (4) mixing the labeled cells with coated microspheres in gas         permeable bags (3:1 sphere:cell);     -   (5) suspension of the mixture at a cell density of 1×106/ml in         100 ml;     -   (6) centrifugation of the mixture at 500×g for 8 min at 4° C.;     -   (7) gently resuspend and culture in humidified atmosphere at         37° C. with 5% CO₂;         Day 3     -   (8) remove 80 ml of culture media by syringe aspiration using a         0.45 micron filter so as not to remove any cells;     -   (9) pass 70 ml of the removed media through a dialysis filter of         6,000 dalton cut-off size;     -   (15) add 70 ml of fresh culture media to the retained 10 ml and         add back to the culture bag;     -   (16) add 100 μg each of anti-CD3, anti-CD28, mAbs to the culture         bag;     -   (17) mix coated microspheres at a sphere:cell ratio of 1:1;     -   (18) centrifuge mixture at 500×g for 8 min at 4° C.;     -   (19) gently resuspend and culture in humidified atmosphere at         37° C. with 5% CO₂;         Day 4     -   (15) repeat steps 8-10         Day 5     -   (16) repeat steps 8-10         Day 6     -   (24) repeat steps 8-14     -   (25) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10         Day 7     -   (26) repeat steps 8-10     -   (27) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10         Day 8     -   (28) repeat steps 8-10     -   (29) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10         Day 9     -   (30) harvest T-cell population and formulate for infusion         Results This method results in a population of T-cells with         enhanced proliferation and production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha         compared to cells activated with CD3/CD28-coated immunomagnetic         beads alone, as well as enhanced expression of CD40L. N=6

Fold IFN-gamma TNF-alpha CD40L Method Expansion ng/ml ng/ml % Example #2 630 +/− 77  90 +/− 16.7 8.8 +/− 1.3 78.5 +/− 10   3/28-beads + 80 +/− 20 3 +/− 2.2 0.5 +/− .2  15 +/− 6  IL-2

Example #3 Set-up (Day 0)

-   -   (7) collection of leukocytes by leukapheresis;     -   (8) purification of 10⁸ CD4+ T-cells by positive selection;     -   (9) labeling of purified CD4+ cells with anti-CD3, anti-CD28 and         anti-HVEM mAbs;     -   (4) mixing the labeled cells with coated microspheres in gas         permeable bags (3:1 sphere:cell);     -   (5) suspension of the mixture at a cell density of 1×106/ml in         100 ml;     -   (6) centrifugation of the mixture at 500×g for 8 min at 4° C.;     -   (7) gently resuspend and culture in humidified atmosphere at         37° C. with 5% CO₂;         Day 3     -   (8) remove 80 ml of culture media by syringe aspiration using a         0.45 micron filter so as not to remove any cells;     -   (9) pass 70 ml of the removed media through a dialysis filter of         6,000 dalton cut-off size;     -   (20) add 70 ml of fresh culture media to the retained 10 ml and         add back to the culture bag;     -   (21) add 100 μg each of anti-CD3, anti-CD28, anti-CD27 and         anti-4-1BB mAbs to the culture bag;     -   (22) mix coated microspheres at a sphere:cell ratio of 1:1;     -   (23) centrifuge mixture at 500×g for 8 min at 4° C.;     -   (24) gently resuspend and culture in humidified atmosphere at         37° C. with 5% CO₂;         Day 4     -   (15) repeat steps 8-10         Day 5     -   (16) repeat steps 8-10         Day 6     -   (31) repeat steps 8-14     -   (32) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10         Day 7     -   (33) repeat steps 8-10     -   (34) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10         Day 8     -   (35) repeat steps 8-10     -   (36) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10         Day 9     -   (37) repeat steps 8-10;     -   (38) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10;     -   (39) add 100 μg each of anti-CD3, anti-CD28, and HVEM-Fc to the         culture bag;     -   (40) mix coated microspheres at a sphere:cell ratio of 1:1;     -   (41) centrifuge mixture at 500×g for 8 min at 4° C.;     -   (42) gently resuspend and culture in humidified atmosphere at         37° C. with 5% CO₂;         Day 10     -   (43) repeat steps 8-10;     -   (44) after 12 h repeat steps 8-10;         Day 11     -   (45) harvest T-cell population and formulate for infusion.         Results

This method results in a population of T-cells with enhanced proliferation and production of IFN-gamma LIGHT and FasL compared to cells activated with CD3/CD28-coated immunomagnetic beads alone. N=6

Fold IFN-gamma FasL Method Expansion ng/ml LIGHT (%) % Example 290 +/− 21   44 +/− 6.2 38.4 +/− 3.3  61.4 +/− 10   #3 3/28- 80 +/− 20   3 +/− 2.2 6.1 +/− 5     4 +/− 1.3 beads + IL-2

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

CITED REFERENCES

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1. A method for generating T-cells with enhanced immunostimulatory capabilities for use in cell therapy treatment protocols, the method comprising: providing an universal crosslinking agent comprising a device with a support coated with a first material wherein the first material is capable of cross-linking more than one second material, the second materials capable of binding moieties on the surface of T-cells; mixing the universal crosslinking agent with a first array comprising at least one of the second materials and the T-cells sufficiently so that the first and second material cross-link and the second material binds with the T-cell surface moieties and delivers a signal to the T-cells; and adding a second array comprising one or more additional second materials to the universal crosslinking agent and the T-cells at a later time in the T-cell response, wherein at least one of the second materials added in the second array is different than at least one of the second materials added in the first array of the mixing step.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second material is hound to moieties on the surface of the T-cells prior to mixing with the universal crosslinking agent.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second material is an antibody that has specificity to T-cell surface moieties.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first material is an antibody.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a biodegradable microsphere.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the microsphere degrades into a substance that is nontoxic to humans.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the universal crosslinking agent is crosslinked with the second material prior to mixing with the T-cells.
 8. The method of claim 1 and further including: centrifuging the universal crosslinking agents with the T-cells to enhance cross-linking.
 9. The method of claim 1 and further including: culturing the universal crosslinking agent with the T-cells to a high cell density.
 10. The method of claim 5 wherein the biodegradable micro spheres after being mixed with the T-cells degrade in culture media or physiological fluids in less than 14 days.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a biodegradable device and the support is a biodegradable support.
 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding additional universal crosslinking agent in the adding step.
 13. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding a third array comprising one or more additional second materials to the universal crosslinking agent and the T-cells at a later time in the T-cell response, wherein at least one of the second materials added in the third array is different than at least one of the second materials added in the second array. 